REDONDO BEACH PLACES TO GO THINGS TO DO Whale Watching Redondo Beach Marina, King Harbor


 The California Gray Whale’s annual migration path brings them close to the South Bay shoreline. The Voyager, leaving from King Harbor, offers daily whale watching cruises December through April. Voyager also offers nature and sunset cruises. Dolphins surfing Voyager’s bow wake are as inspiring a show as the whales. Pelicans, cormorants, night herons and of course sea gulls offer plenty of entertainment on the way out to the whales. During the early winter of 2010 dozens of blue whales camped out for a month, one to two miles off of Redondo Beach. Hopes are high that they will do the same in coming years. Departs 7 days a week. (310) 944-1219 VoyagerExcursions.com.


Sport fishing Redondo Beach Marina


 White sea bass, sand bass, calico bass, and halibut are plentiful in the Santa Monica Bay. All it takes is a good skipper to show you where they are. Redondo Sport Fishing’s skippers have been masters of the bay for gener- ations and don’t mind sharing their knowledge. Half-day and all-day boats leave daily from the Redondo Sport Fishing pier (RedondoSportFishing.com), next to Polly’s coffee shop. For gear and local advice, visit Just Fishing by Pete (2427 190th St. Redondo Beach, 310-376-7035).


King Harbor www.visitredondo.com


 If you’re a boater, you can be out of King Harbor and in the open ocean within 5 minutes of leaving your slip. The prevailing westerly winds are a consistent 6 to 15 knots, year round, which makes for fun, not too challenging sail- ing. Marina Sailing (310-318-2772) and South Bay Sailing (310-937-3180) offer lessons and charters. If you prefer to enjoy the boats from shore, dozens of restaurants on the pier and in the four marinas offer views of the harbor. Another way to view the boats is to rent a bike or skates at the entrance to Port Royal Marina. Sport fishing and whale watching boats leave daily from the Sport Fishing pier (310-374-3481). The harbor also offers a glass bottom semi submarine ride (310 909-3170), and for over the top roman- tics book a gondola ride (310-376-6977). Kayaks, pedal boats and jet ski rentals are also available.


Skin diving/Scuba diving  The edge of the Redondo Canyon just south of the Redondo pier and just a few hundred yards off the beach ranges in depth from 15 to 40 feet, with the canyon wall dropping down 80 feet and is famous for day and night dives and a wide range of marine life.  Cable car reef north of the Hermosa Pier, and a few hun- dred yards off shore is in 60 feet of water and gets its name from the streetcar dumped there in 1960, along with 14 car bodies, and 330 tons of quarry rock. Also within a mile of the Redondo coastline are a number of wrecks popular with divers. The Sacramento, the “world’s largest fishing barge” accom- modated up to 500 fishermen and women until she sunk during a storm in 1968. Today, the wreck of the Sacramento remains relatively untouched. Divers can explore her ornate wood carvings, beautiful stained glass, brass relics, and the hyperbaric chamber.  Chewing gum magnate William Wrigley’s Avalon ferried 3,000 visitors a day from Los Angeles Harbor to Catalina Island aboard the luxurious Avalon during the 1920s. The Avalon sunk in a storm in 1964, long after its storied career


14 EASY READER VISITOR GUIDE July 2011


The Voyager, out of King Harbor, offers daily whale watch- ing and sightseeing trips. Photo courtesy of the Voyager


had come to an end.  The 441-foot USS Palawan Liberty Ship was sunk in 1977 in 110 feet of water to serve as an artificial fishing reef. The reef is known locally as the spot where Dive N’ Surf owner and wet suit inventor Bob Meistrell celebrated his 82nd birth- day in 2010, joined by three generations of his diving family. Thanks to a 1996 kelp restoration project by the environ- mental group Santa Monica Bay keeper, some of the most beau- tiful diving in world can be found within swimming distance of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Swimming through the twin- kling, golden light filtering through the giant fronds has been compare to a walk through the redwood forest on a sunny day. Dive gear rentals, air, and expert advice are available at


Dive N’ Surf, 504 N. Broadway, Redondo Beach, (310 372- 8423 and Sea d Sea, 1911 S. Catalina Ave., Redondo Beach, (310) 373-6355.


Redondo Beach Historical Museum 302 Flagler Lane. 310-318-0684.


 Redondo’s Historical Museum home is a lovingly restored 1904 Queen Anne house, next door to a 1906 Queen Anne house presently being restore, and surround- ed by a rose garden. The city’s colorful history, including its former commercial harbor and new recreational harbor, California surfing pioneer George Freeth, 1940s brothel owner Madam T are documented in photos, newspapers and other memorabilia. Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 1p.m and on weekends from noon to 4 p.m. Privately scheduled group tours are available by request.


Redondo Pier


Torrance Blvd., west of Catalina Ave. Redondopier.com


 The next best thing to being on the ocean is looking out on the ocean. And there’s no better place than the Redondo Beach pier. Enjoy a mai tai at the top of Tony’s while watch- ing boats pass in and out of the harbor. (Tony’s is such a beloved landmark that when its landlord, the city council, hesitated at renewing Tony’s lease, residents rallied to the restaurant’s defense.) Or listen to the summer pier concerts (Thursdays and Saturday evenings, through Labor Day) while waiting for the green flash. Then slip down to Naja’s for one of their 100 draft beers. Get romantic on a gondola ride, or over oysters Rockefeller prepared by Chef Rafael at Delzano’s by the Sea. Pick out a filet of locally caught hal- ibut at the Captain Kidd’s, or Quality Seafood fish markets and let them prepare it for you. End the evening with live music at Brixton, a regular stop for renown musicians, from


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